Australia to Put Environmental Brakes on A.I. Data Centers

Australia will require large data centers powering artificial intelligence to generate as much power as they consume, and ensure that creative professionals retain control over work that may be used to train A.I. systems, as the government sets up guardrails over the rapidly growing industry.

The announcements on Wednesday in a speech by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese came as Australia draws significant interest from A.I. companies because of its size and the availability of renewable energy, and as resistance to data centers builds in many parts of the United States and Europe.

Major A.I. companies have opened offices or announced investments in Australia in recent months.

The Australian government is trying to balance capitalizing on the A.I. boom with setting parameters on a fast-changing industry that has sparked backlash over environmental impacts, energy use and lack of contribution to local economies.

“Every country on earth is grappling with these challenges right now. Australia will be the first country in the world to bring these issues into a single, national framework,” Mr. Albanese said Wednesday, laying out the standards his government will pursue.

The details of what exactly the requirements will look like and how they will be enforced remain to be seen, and the government will need to secure the backing of individual states for its plan.

The government said it would introduce legislation on the standards early next year, and establish an “Office of A.I.” directly reporting to the prime minister to coordinate implementation.

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